Surface cleaning machine



Dec. 2, 1941. E. SUNDMARK SURFACE CLEANING MACHINE Filed Aug 3, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ec. 2, 1941. E. SUNDMARK 2,264,778

SURFACE CLEANING MAQHINE Filed Aug. 3, 193a 4 Sheets-Sheet z I i \i ec. 2, 1941. E. SUNDMARK 5 SURFACE CLEANING MACHINE v Filed Aug. 3, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4,

Patented Dec. 2, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SURFACE CLEANING MACHINE Eugene Sundmark, New York, N. Y. Application August 3, 1938, Serial No. 222,896

Claims.

Previous devices for washing surfaces, such as floors, ceilings and walls of buildings, have been unsatisfactory largely on account of the lack of means for controlling the liquids used in the cleaning operation. Furthermore, such devices, both mechanical and hand operated, have involved the scrubbing of such surfaces with brushes, rags or sponges, accompanied by the splashing and spilling of the liquids on base boards and furniture. These devices are so well known that there is no need of further stressing the inconveniences and damages resulting, both as to the tenants of buildings and the cleaning personnel. Whenever this work has to be done at regular intervals for sanitary and other reasons, as in schools, hospitals and public buildings, and particularly where the use of buildings and rooms in the buildings are continuously required, such cleaning has been a serious problem.

Scrubbing devices are not only inconvenient and messy, but they do a great deal of damage to the surfaces which are being cleaned, espev cially if these surfaces are covered with paint, paper or other easily damaged material.

As the dirt or other deposits will vary on any surface, either because it is being contacted by people putting their dirty hands upon it, or, because varying air currents carry the dust and soot in the air or on floors to different parts of a surface, notably over radiators, ventilators or air ducts, great diiilculty of cleaning is experienced because of the need for varying the strength of the cleaning solution or increasing the friction on the surface at the points where this greater accumulation of dirt has been deposited, causing streaky and uneven appearance of the finished job.

Where mechanical means have been designed to this work, some improvement over the hand method may be expected, and there may be less spillage or splashing, but as long as scrubbin methods are employed, the injury to painted surfaces will be the same and often greater, largely because a flat stiff applicator, even though covered with a rag, will scrub the high spots on a plastered and painted wall and naturally will not follow the contour as readily as the hand method.

Numerous other difficulties have been encountered in previously designed machines for the present purpose, but it will be unnecessary to discuss them in detail, as they are well known to those skilled in the art.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a portable surface cleaning apparatus which is complete in itself, requiring no outside connections with electric or other power supply.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved method and apparatus capable of cleansing surfaces covered with paint, paper, marble or other fragile materials without injury thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved applicator having sponging and dirt removing means and also means acting as a receptacle for the dirt which is removed during the cleaning process.

Also another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved applicator having an absorbent pad into which liquids and dirt are absorbed, said pad fitting into a pocket of the applicator, which pocket encloses the greater portion of the pad loosely, and which pad on contact with surface to be cleaned, immediately loosens and absorbs the dirt or other deposits on said surface.

Another object of this invention is to provide additional devices to completely absorb substantially all liquids that may remain on the surface cleaned, leaving said surface substantially dry and free from cleaning fluid or material as well as from dirt.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved device of the character described with a control valve for the liquid used in cleaning, so that the operator can effectively release liquid to the pad in minute and controllable quantities, so that the pad may at all times be supplied with fresh cleaning fluid for application to the surfaces which are to be cleaned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved pad so constructed that it will fit snugly into the pocket of the applicator, touching all sides of the pocket, but remaining sufficiently loose to freely absorb the cleaning liquids and transport same to the surface to be cleaned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved detachable means for holding the pad in position.

Other objects will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings, referring to which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine with the tank shell cut away to show the seal and adapter fitting construction.

Figure 2 shows a front elevation of the machine with part of tank shell cut away showing the construction of the hand pump in cross-sectional view.

Figure 3 is a detail view of the air regulator trap valve.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the applicator, showing the general arrangement of pad pockets, clamps and handle.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view roughly corresponding to a section along the line AA of Figure 4 through the aluminum handle, and along the line B-B of Figure 4 through the construction of main pocket plate and cover pocket clamp.

Figure 6 is a cross section along the line C--C of Figure 4.

Figure '7 is a diagram of the applicator pad, spread out showing general arrangement of main pocket pad with locations of auxiliary pads and take-up or adjusting ribs.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal side view of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the lines C-C of Figure 4 showing one of the clamp members elevated to permit adjustment of the pad.

Figure 10 is a longitudinal end view of Figure 7.

Figures 11 to 15, inclusive, are sectional views of the applicator with different kinds of pads,

Referring to Figure 1: Two metal tanks or containers and 2, are seated in a cradle and held at the top by a top frame 8. The cradle and top frame are held together by two end tie rods 3 and 4 and two center tie rods 5 and 6. Nuts 9 and I0 hold the rods 3 and 4 in place, and handle brackets II and I2 hold the rods 5 and 6. End nuts |3 and 4 mounted on tie rod l5 hold tube IS in position between brackets II and 2 to form a carrying handle. Located in tank 2 is a simple hand pump l1 constructed of a metal tube l8 fastened into a cap l9 which is sealed at the .bottom end of the tube with a pressed in plug having an outlet check valve 2|.

The pump rod 22 carries a leather plunger 21 fixed between nuts 23 and 24 and washers 25 and 26. Fixed at the end of pump rod 22 and seated in the threaded bushing 28 is an operating handle or knob 29. The cap I9 is screwed on to a nipple 30 that has been sealed to the tank collar 3| spun out of the top of the tank. Screwed on to a similarly sealed nipple construction as that on tank 2 is another metal cap 32 on tank I having a pressure gauge 33.

Connecting tanks and 2 is an air regulator trapvalve structure 34. This trap is secured to the tanks and 2 by flare nuts 35 and 36 which clamp the trap extremities to the threaded outer end portions of the elbows 31 and 38 in the usual manner. These elbows 31 and 38 are threaded into reinforced internally threaded sputs at-- tached to the two tanks and 2 and indicated by reference characters 33 and 40; Ring 4!! threaded to flange 39 is drawn to a tight seal to the tank shell 4|. L fittings 42 and 43 are screwed into similar seals 45 and 44 described in connection with the air regulator trap valve. Flare nuts 46 hold rubber tubing or hose line connection 41. 4

Figure 3 shows the construction of air regulator trap valve 34 made by bending a metal tube into one or more loops and having one end 48 higher than the other 49 from a horizontal or pockets and clamps 56 are riveted together at 51 and these parts are, inturn, riveted to plates 58 by rivets 59. The plates 58 extend into pockets Gla where they are hingedly mounted on pins 60 and 6| as shown. These pins 60 and 5| have a torsion spring 62 wrapped around them with the ends secured to the cover clamp mechanism 55. Mounted on pin 53 through casting 52 is a torsion spring 64 and a trigger lever 65. Riding on plunger 61 seated in the sealing nut 68 having a washer 69 and a resilient disc 10 which is locked in a chamber housing 1| forming an absolute seal. Screwed in the chamber 12 is a valve stem of the type used in standard pneumatic tires. An inner take-up plunger 13 is located between tire valve stem and resilient disc 10.

Welded to the valve chamber housing H is a long tube 14 threaded at 15 to take-up nut 16. Acting as a fill and handle between bracket castings 52 is a fibrous covering 11 around a wood plug 18. Rubber tubing from tanks 4'! are pressed on copper flare tube 19 seated against flare nut surface at 8B and locked together by flare nut 8|. A connecting tube 82 between valve chamber housing II is screwed thereto at 83 and connected at flare 84 by sealed connection 85 leading to main distributing channel 86. Liquid distributing apertures 81 through the main plate act as a distributing passage to the pad, as shown in Figure 9.

A section of the plate 5| has been cut out as shown by the dotted line 88, allowing a passage between main pad and auxiliary zone pad. The Dad 89 having a main section 90 with end ribs 9|, side adjusting ribs 92 and auxiliary absorption zones 93, is constructed from the main body of extra heavy terry cloth as shown at 94 and has a transverse stitch with loops 95 opposite each other stitched through and in between a criss cross weave. This main area 30 is built up by weaving additional loops to a thickness to conform with depth of pocket 5| a. End ribs 9|, side ribs 92 and auxiliary zones 93 are built up in a similar manner to conform to specifications of these members of the applicator. Figure 9 shows how the pad is adjusted in the applicator.

Having described the construction of the apparatus I have designed, the operation is as follows: The operator removes pump unit I I by unscrewing cap IS in tank 2, then fills container with clear water, replacing pump unit and tightening cap. He now removes cap 32 in tank I,

level planer End 48 is connected to tank 2 while end 43 is connected with tank I. Tank 2 is used for clear water and tank I forcleaning solution.

Figure 4 shows applicator 50 having'a main plate 5| with rolled edge to form pocket 5|a which is secured to an aluminum handle casting 52 with screws 53 through gasket 54. The cover filling the container within one inch below air regulator trap 34 with any suitable prepared cleaning fluid, replacing cap and tightening it to the nipple 30. Pressure is now pumped into tank 2 which is connected by air regulator trap valve 34 to the tank or container l which holds gauge 33 which now registers pressure in both tanks or containers. A pressure of 30 pounds is sufllcient to last the operator until both containers are empty, or about 15 hours. The operator will cover in cleaning, an area of approximately 7,000 square feet, without refilling or repumping, in other words, work .two days consecutively. However, two operators may work one day without refilling or repumping, in which case one man operates the cleaning fluid applicator and the other follows with clear water and final appliedtor, diluting and absorbing any cleaning fluid that might remain on the surface being cleaned. After the machine has been brought to the point of operation and the applicators have been 7 equipped with the pads, which are now fastened the cam face 66 of the trigger lever is aunder the cover clamps and across the face of the main plate, filling the pocket with the main pad and then brought around the edge to the cover clam and the auxiliary absorption pockets, adjusted to flt snugly by the ribs which follow around the contour of the main plate.

The valve is now pressed to permit just enough liquid to enter the pad to dampen it and then apply it to the surface to be cleaned. The applicator is now held flush to the surface to be cleaned and moved in a straight line, regulating the speed to the speed of absorption, and only enough pressure is applied to keep the surface of the pad on the surface being cleaned. By

making lap after lap, overlapping slightly the previous lap covered, the operator removes all the dirt by the aid of the surface energy as well as the capillary action within the pad. As the operator glides the applicator pad over the surface he valves enough cleaning fluid to the pad to keep it damp and to make up for any loss caused by wetting the surface being cleaned, and evaporation from the main pad to the auxiliary pad and through the holes in the auxiliary pad cover.

The operator now applies the second applicator containing the clear water and after having first wet the pad or pads as described above, goes over the same area to remove the cleaning fluid and also valving clear water into the pads to make up for loss from wetting the surface and evaporatiJn.

The third operation is an applicator not attached to the machine, but having the same pad arrangement to remove the last of any water that is on the surface which has been cleaned, bufling the surface lightly to restore the original sheen or condition of the cleaned surface.

While operating the pads will become filled with dirt gradually and when filled with dirt and foreign matter from the surface to a point when they will hold no more dirt, they are removed and replaced with clean pads.

The pad constructions are best shown in Figures 9 to 15, inclusive. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the pad covering is constructed of what -is known as terry cloth which may be woven with the projecting flanges such as indicated at 90, 9| and 92 without diiflculty. As will be seen from Figures 9 to 10 inclusive, these flanges are on the face orouter side of the cloth. The large flange II5 serve to engage the outer flange of the cap 55 and serve as a holding means to lock the cover in position. If the cloth stretches the additional flanges 92 may be pulled up under the edge of the cover plate for a similar purpose. The normal purpose of the flanges 92 and 9| is to serve as buffers to keep the hard edge of the applicator from abrasive contact with the wall surface as when the applicator is used in corners.

As will be noted from comparison with Figures 4, 5, 6 and 10, Figures 11 to 15, inclusive, show a sectional view through the main plate taken' along the line CC of Fig. 4, the scale being somewhat increased for clearness of illustration.

Figure 11 shows thin layers of pulp material 96 built up to form pads which may be inserted under cover 55 and in the cover pocket. The terry cloth pad 91 is woven and builds up to the desired thickness to fit the main pocket so that it is unnecessary to use additional absorbent material to fill the space. The flanges or ribs 99 are brought around the edges I00 of the main plate, passed under the cap 55 and serve as holding means for detachably locking the pad in place as at IOI.

10 cloth pad in two or more layers I04 and I05 is placed in the main pocket and these layers are made thin as indicated at I06 to wrap around the edges and ends I00 of the main plate and inserted under the pulp Dad 96 and clamped in I position by the cover 55.

Figure 14 shows auxiliary absorbent pads I01 built up-of terry cloth or similar absorbent material on the edges or ends of a thin wrapper I08 having a pulp filler I09 inserted in the main plate pocket 5Ia and wrapped around the main plate edges or ends I00.

Figure 15 shows auxiliary absorbent pads H0 and main terry cloth pads III woven and built from a thin wrapper II2, filling the main pocket and having two or more similar terry cloth pads III wrapped about the main plate edges I00 together with auxiliary absorption pads H0 inserted under and held securely by the cover 55.

I claim:

1. In a surface cleaning device, supporting means formed with a recess for receiving absorbent material, absorbent material arranged in said recess, clamps for securing and holding the absorbent material to the supporting means, said clamps including auxiliary absorbent pad holding means, a handle attached to the supporting means for the absorbent material, and means for feeding fluid to said absorbent material.

2. A cleaning device comprising a flat sheet metal body member formed with a continuous downturned edge forming a dirt receptacle, a cloth stretched over said edge and forming a porous outer wall for said receptacle and hinged clamping devices connected with said body member for holding said cloth in position, said clamping devices engaging the cloth at spaced points.

3. A cleaning device comprising a relatively fiat body formed with a recess in its under face, a handle secured to the upper surface of said body, a cloth stretched across the recess of the under face of said body to form a porous working face, an absorbent material confined between said cloth and said body within said recess, and means hinged to the upper face of said body for retaining said porous cloth in stretched position, said means including concave wall portions overlying the upper face of said body and forming therewith confining chambers for absorbent material.

4. In an applicator, an absorbent pad, a support for the absorbent pad, the support being in the form of a shallow inverted plate fitting around one surface of the absorbent pad, extensions on the absorbent pad which fold over to the top of the support, means for clamping and holding the extensions and thereby securing the pad to the support, and perforations formed in the support such that capillary flow may pass through the plate fromthe pad to the extensions.

5. A cleaning device including a body formed with a recess in its under face, openings formed in said body. clamping elements secured in spaced relation on the upper face of said body member, said clamping elements including portions formed with recessed under faces adapted to overlie the openings formed in said body, and a cloth stretched across the under face of said body and extending under and being engaged about the her and secured to spaced points of the upper surface of said body member by the clamping elements whereby the absorbent material is retained in said recess and a porous working surface is provided.

7. A cleaning cloth including a flexible sheet of porous material having spaced absorbent sections, and clamp engaging rib-like elements formed integral with said cloth to facilitate attachment to a supporting element, certain of said elements being formed between said spaced absorbent sections.

8. A cleaning device including a body, openings formed in the body, clamping elements secured in spaced relation on the upper face of said body member, said clamping elements including portions formed with recessed under faces adapted to overlie the openings formed in said body and radial gripping extensions adapted to overlie corner portions of said body, and a cloth stretched across the under face of said body and extending under and being engaged by said clamping elements, said cloth including absorbent portions adapted to be superimposed at each side of the body area including said openings and ribbed portions for cooperating with the clamping surfaces of said clamping elements.

9. A cleaning device including a body, clamping elements secured to the upper face of said body and including a plurality of gripping faces, and a cloth stretched across the under fac of said body and under said clamping elements, said cloth being formed With grooves so constructed and-arranged as to seat the gripping aces of said clamping elements.

10. The substance of claim 9 characterized in that the body member is formed with spaced openings and the cloth is provided with absorbent portions adapted to be superimposed at each side of the body and about the area defining said openings.

EUGENE SUNDMARK. 

